Page 72 of An Arcane Education
“I'm sorry,” Alaric says, holding me tightly. “I know this isn't fair to you. And I know that it seems like forever until you graduate. But I promise, this isn’t just some secretive distraction for me. I wouldn’t be risking my career for you if I didn’t think you were worth it. I’d just prefer for both of us to make it out of here with our reputations intact.”
“I understand,” I tell him, because I do. This relationship needs to stay a secret, but it doesn’t change the fact that being someone’s secret is demoralizing when all you want is to shout it from the rooftops. Still, his reassurance provides some comfort.
After we sneak out of the library and are walking back across campus, Alaric asks, “Are you going to the Samhain Ball tomorrow?”
“Yes. The girls convinced me to go. Are you?”
“I have to. Faculty are required to attend and supervise, so I’ll see you there.”
“I'll look forward to it,” I say, even though I know we can't go together, even though I know I'll have to watch him from across the room and pretend he's nothing more than my professor and that I’m not falling for him more every day.
CHAPTER 30
It’s Saturday evening, and Max, Callista, Delilah, Avery, and I have taken over the dorm room, transforming it from a living area into something resembling a backstage dressing room. Beds and desks have been shoved against walls, and every available space is occupied by a person, a dress, or a makeup bag.
Callista has designated herself the official makeup artist for the night for any of us who allow it, and she’s currently wielding an eyeliner pencil while she works on Delilah’s eye makeup.
The scents of hairspray and perfume permeate the air as we all prepare for the Samhain ball tonight. It’s the last night of October, the time when the veil between the physical world and the spiritual one is the thinnest, a time for reflection and celebrating the cycles between life and death.
“Hold still,” Callista reprimands Delilah.
“I’m trying! It feels like you’re poking my eye with that thing.”
“We’re almost done. I promise.”
I sit on my bed in my sweatpants watching the chaos unfold while I wait for Callista to finish up with Delilah. I’ve been smiling to myself all evening with the warmth that’s bubbling inside of my chest. This feeling of belonging is new to me, and it’s something I never realized how much I needed until now. Growing up, I had friends in school, but I never had those deep, close friendships where we’d have sleepovers or confess secrets. I always felt dispensable, like a background character that was sometimes entertaining but never essential.
But here and now, surrounded by these women who have become so important to me in such a short time, I feel like I truly belong.
“Your turn,” Callista announces, gesturing from me to the chair as Delilah stands and examines herself in the full-length mirror.
I settle into the seat, and Callista circles me like a predator assessing prey. “Okay, with that dress, we're going dramatic. Smokey and gold, I think.”
“Do whatever you think is best,” I tell her.
She nods, examining my face one more time before grabbing an eyeshadow palette. I close my eyes, only opening them when I’m instructed to. The brushes are soft against my skin as Callista blends colors in an arc over my eyelids.
“So,” Avery says from across the room, “does anyone actually have a date for tonight?”
The room echoes with a chorus of nos, some amused and others flippant.
“We’re better off going together than with men whowill refuse to dance then attempt to drag us away early because they think they’ll get lucky,” Callista says.
“Some of us are just perpetually single,” Delilah mutters.
Callista turns around to point at her with a makeup brush. “You’re only single because most men are intimidated by a woman who’s so much smarter than they are. When you don’t downplay your intelligence for them, they take it as a hit to their delicate egos. Until then, it’s better to be single than to minimize how brilliant you are.”
Delilah smiles and shrugs. “Fair enough, I guess.”
“What about you, Vivian?” Avery asks. “Anyone catching your eye?”
My stomach flips at the question, and I'm grateful my eyes are still closed so no one can see my expression. “I've been too focused on not failing out to think about dating.”
It's not technically a lie. Ihavebeen focused on my studies. The fact that I'm also sneaking around with my professor is just… extracurricular.
“Voila!” Callista announces dramatically a half hour later, stepping backward and examining her work. “You lookstunning.”
I open my eyes and make my way to the mirror. I don’t know what kind of magic she worked on me, but the smoky gold tones around my eyes make them look sultry and dramatic, and gold shimmer catches the light on my cheekbones. My lips are painted a deep red that’s sexy without being too over-the-top.
